Polaroid Unveils Printing Technology
Polaroid Corp. unveiled new digital printing technology Thursday as part of a turnaround strategy for the financially struggling company. The instant color and monochrome technology, dubbed Opal and Onyx respectively, is part of a new business plan under which Polaroid will collaborate with other companies that will build kiosks, printers and related hardware. The new printing technology will enable digital camera users to print pictures at retail kiosks in locations like grocery stores and supermarkets.
Polaroid's core business of instant photography has struggled as one-hour film developing laboratories have proliferated. Polaroid faces stiff competition from Rochester, N.Y.-based Eastman Kodak, which already has more than 20,000 PictureMaker kiosks in operation. Sony Corp. is also developing its own kiosk printing program.
Pace Demonstrates New Options in Georgia
Pace Micro Technology Americas, the world's largest dedicated developer of digital home gateway technology, announced its plans for SUPERCOMM 2001, beginning June 5 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. In booth #7063, Pace will showcase its new IP-based interactive TV solutions: 1) the DSL4000 digital home gateway technology; and 2) digital PVR (Personal Video Recorder) home gateway platforms with integrated Sega games. Pace's DSL4000 enables telecommunications service providers in North America to deliver high-quality video and interactive services over existing copper wires. This is the first time a box with these capabilities has been available in North America. Pace has already deployed these boxes for Aliant Telecom Altantic Canada's VibeVision digital television service over ADSL networks. Aliant Telecom's VibeVision service, enabled by Pace's DSL4000, provides customers digital color and sound, local radio stations and the Galaxy music channels, PPV movies and an interactive on-screen TV guide that enables customers to surf the program listings. As an extra benefit, customers can surf the Net and retrieve e-mail on their television.
Cybernet Advances Gesture Recognition Technology
Cybernet Systems is taking its gesture recognition technology to the next level by developing a computer's ability to automatically "learn" previously unseen gesture commands used in military training operations. The Ann Arbor-based research and commercial product development company was recently awarded a Phase II Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contract with the U.S. Army Simulation, Training and Instrumentation Command (STRICOM) to continue development of an automatic gesture learning system. When complete, the system will enable small unit infantry leaders--immersed in a virtual reality simulator--to direct computer generated forces through a variety of non-programmed, yet consistent, hand gestures. Cybernet's technology enables a computer to automatically "learn" new gestures through the combination of a pre-programmed equation of hand motions and an algorithm that manipulates the parameters, or "values," of specific movements.
Intel, HP Launch New Generation Chips
After nearly a decade of development and two years of delays, Intel Corp. and Hewlett-Packard Co. on Tuesday launched the first in a new generation of microprocessors they hope will dominate the next era of
computing. The Itanium processor, developed by both companies, is designed for workstations and servers--machines that power websites, sift through data and run scientific applications. As prices in its core PC business slide, Intel hopes Itanium will capture a slice of the high-end server and workstation market dominated by Sun Microsystems Inc. and International Business Machines Corp. In a launch subdued in comparison to desktop processor introductions, Intel and Hewlett-Packard officials unveiled HP's first broadly available Itanium machines Tuesday. Prices start at $7,000. Dell, Compaq, IBM, Silicon Graphics Inc. also announced their first Itanium-based systems, which are expected to be available in June. In all, 25 computer makers are expected to offer more than 35 models this year. The chips, which range in price from $1,177 to $4,227, are available at speeds of 733 MHz and 800 MHz.
BroadVision Rolls Out Developers Forum Conference
BroadVision, Inc., a leading provider of personalized e-business applications, is launching its BroadVision Developers' Forum, a comprehensive, three-day technical conference devoted exclusively to customers and partners that develop BroadVision-based e-business solutions. Debuting as a "conference within a conference" during Bvision 2001, the fifth-annual BroadVision International User Conference, the BroadVision Developers' Forum takes place June 3-6, 2001 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The BroadVision Developers' Forum includes 15 technical sessions hosted or presented by members of BroadVision's product development, engineering, product management and consulting organizations. Many of the Developers' Forum sessions also feature presentations from BroadVision partners and customers including Compaq, Future 121, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, i2, Merck-Medco, and Sun Microsystems. BroadVision Developers' Forum sessions will provide in-depth technical detail about a wide range of BroadVision-specific products, features, and development issues including: J2EE technology support; wireless capabilities; performance analysis, scalability, and availability features; BroadVision's enterprise portal architecture and much more.
Microsoft Releases Patch for Media Player
Microsoft has released a patch intended to plug security holes in its Windows Media Player software that enable attackers to run malicious code and access computer files on users' PCs. The patch repairs two flaws that affect Media Player versions 6.4 and 7, Microsoft said. The first flaw occurs when a person plays streaming media that resides on an intranet or Internet site that facilitates the use of playlists. Because of what is called a "buffer overrun" problem, where certain files can be streamed unchecked, a malicious attacker could run code of his or her choice on the machine of an unsuspecting user, Microsoft said in a security bulletin posted Wednesday. The second security flaw affects how the Media Player handles Internet shortcuts. The security defect causes the software to save Internet shortcuts to the person's temporary files folder.
Caribbean Gaming Conference Slated For June
Leading executives of the Caribbean Basin's gaming and hospitality industry will deliver an upbeat message to colleagues and competitors at the third annual Caribbean Gaming & Tourism Conference scheduled for June 12-14 at the Caribe Hilton, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Against a backdrop of increased capital investment throughout most of the region and individual success stories, including the dramatic influx of tourists to Cuba, noted industry experts believe that the economic outlook for the region is robust. Three keynote addresses will open each day of the conference:
- Tuesday, June 12 Cuba - The Sleeping Giant Awakens
Speaker: John S. Kavulich, II, President, U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, New York, NY.
- Wednesday, June 13 - Caribbean Economics for the 21st Century
Speaker: Jose Villamil, Chairman, Estudios Tecnicos, Inc., San Juan, PR; Chairman of the Board, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, Puerto Rico.
- Thursday, June 14 - The Internet-Caribbean Marriage. . . Why the Love Affair?
Speaker: Sue Schneider, Chief Executive Officer and President, The River City Group, St. Louis.